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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Libanan knows how to track down mastermind behind Lapid slay

Libanan knows how to track down mastermind behind Lapid slay

Published Oct 20, 2022 01:02 pm

House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan believes that following the money trail can lead law enforcers to the "brains" behind the killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa, more popularly known as Percy Lapid.

Percy Lapid (Roy Mabasa's Facebook)


This, as Libanan prodded the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday, Oct. 20 “to spare no effort” in running after the mastermind of the shocking ambush-slay.

"We welcome the break in the case, which was clearly facilitated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s decision to quickly put up reward posters with the gunman’s CCTV image,” Libanan said.

The veteran solon was referring to the capture of gunman Joel Escorial over the weekend.

Escorial has since confessed to authorities and claimed that the order to kill Lapid came from a “middleman” at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

“As far as we’re concerned, the case is unsolved as long as the mastermind is scot free,” Libanan said.

“The authorities should follow the money. An examination of the money transfers may well lead to the mastermind,” added the 4Ps Party-list congressman, who is a lawyer by profession.

“No effort should be spared to single out, apprehend, prosecute and put behind bars the mastermind who supposedly paid for the contract killing,” Libanan stressed.

Escorial alleged that there were six of them in the actual plan to kill Lapid last Oct. 3, and that they were paid a total of P550,000.

He earlier voluntarily surrendered to the authorities out of fear for his safety.

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